Clasp



Dec. 14, 1948.

l. ROWEN CLASP 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1946 INVENTOR fi/rw' n 0 /C: M ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1948. I ow 2,456,596

CLASP Filed March 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENfOR W A m M a-ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1948 .11 :reo STATES PATENT CLASP Irving Rowen, Bronx, N. Y., assignor -to Glen Jewelry Company, Inc, New York, .N. Y., acorlporationsof New York Application March16, 1946, Serial No. 654,918

.3 Claims.

it My invention relates to cla'sps for bracelets and wrist watch straps or chains and the like, and more particularlyto that typeof ciasp'which at all times maintains the opposite endsof the bracelet connected together, but which may he opened fully in order to increase the effective length of the bracelet lsufiiciently to permit its *passage over the hand of the wearerpan'cl which when closed. may be adjusted inor'rier'to cause the bracelet to properly zfit' wrists of fiifi-erent cir- ;ontthe top of the clasp, thus making it easier to :open :than zclasps heretofore known which are- :qu-ired the wearer to move :either .a very small button or to lift a. member .by inserting the :fin- 'gernail'thereunder.

'Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered .in connection with the accom- .panying drawings, which form a 'part of this Specification andof which Fig. 1 is alongitudinal"sectionthrough a clasp in accordance with my :inventionin fully opened condition;

,:Fig.;2 is :a sectional 'viewsimilar to Fig. 1, but with the cla-sp'partly closed; 1

i3 ;is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing'thesclasp fully closed;

Fig. '41s .ra cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

'Fig. '5 is a cross-sectionalview on-an enlarged scale taken on the1inea5-5 of Fig.2;

.Fig. 6 .is alongitudinal section 'throu'ghxa clasp showing :another embodiment .of my invention, the Clasptbeing ttully closed Fig. is a cross-sectional view taken on izthe .lineTL-Jl :of Fig. '6

Fig.8 is :asectionaltyiew similar to Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 9 is .a sectionalviewsimila'r to Fig. ;8 with the clasp shown in closed position; V

Fig. 10 is a topplan view on a reduced scale of the clasp shown in Fig. :8; :and

Fig. 11 is across-sectional .view, on an'eniarged scale, taken onthe line '.H---! I of FigB.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, reference character l designates a base .member to one end of which is suitably connected 'a bracelet ;or the like 12. Member H! is curved inorder to con form with the curvature of the we'arerfs wrist. Asis more clearly shown infligcfi, hase:mernb.er includes a bottom portion 134, upwardly :ex-

is pivoted at '26 toa link "28.

tending side flanges 16, which 'are *turned "in wardly at it to provide downwardly cniteniziing flange elements 28. The loweredge of 'either or both of the downwardlyextending-fiangelements 2t is'formed withratchetteethZZ.

Pivota'lly secured to the end ofbase member to, opposite the end to which the :ibra'celet F! 'is'secureiis-a link Z'L theopposi-te end o'f -whi'h Either or both '6! the links-24 and '28 are made of resilient material. As shown, the link 24 is 46f resilient material and when unconfined i-s substant-laliy straight, while the link 2B is not "resilient an'd is formed with a curvature substantially '=the -sa;me as that of the-base member I'll.

The end of link 28 opposite 'f-rom'plvot 2S provided with a downwardly extending fian'ge or lip 30. Thislink has sliding-engagement withfa top member -32 Whichis in theform "of a-=charme1 having a web 34 and flanges timers is 'best 'shomi in Fig. 5. As is seen from Fig, *1, the flanges fl terminate some distance -irom "one end er the member 32 and immediately adjacent to "this end oi each flange the material is-bent baek on theinside of the flange, as is sh'ownat afl in Fig. 5. Thelength of "the =parts'38 "is such that sufficient clearance isle'it between itheir upper'iends and the inside of the web 3! to accommodate the link 28, which-may slide longituil-inally between the web and "the parts 38, the lip "30 (m the link "28 preventingcomplete'separation df'the link from them-ember 32. "The'material of -the flanges '36, except where 'it is bent inwardly to form the pieces 38, is bent outwardly at right angles to the flanges to form additional flanges 48 which, when the clasp is closed slide underneath the flanges 20 on the base member I0. The flange '46 which cooperates with "the flange 28 carrying the ratchet teethZ'Z is-formed a tooth or projection 4-2 for engaging therathet teeth.

The other -end of the member 32 is suitably connected to the opposite end ofthe"brace"let|'2.

The above described "device operates as 1'01- lows: With the parts in the position "shown in Fig. '1,-or with the link 24 pivoted still farther in *a clockwise direction with "respectto thezbase member 10, the bracelet is in its most extended condition and may he slipped over the hand the 'wearer. Thereafter the top member 32 1S grasped by the other hand and its iman-ipiiiat'ed so as to pivot the link 24 "'inacountercl'ockwise direction with respect to "the "base member until "the -'end of the top 3-2 fentersibetween the flanges 2 0 or the ba-se member. Inaismtt*ci'vantiie outwardly extending flange 40 on the top member do not extend all the way to the end of this member, the end of the latter may enter freely between the flanges 26 on the base member. Thereafter, the top member 32 is slid into the base member, the flanges 40 of the former sliding below the flanges 2B of the latter. During this movement the tooth 42 on the flange 40 of the top member slides over the teeth 22 of the ratchet. Also, as the top member is slid into the base member, the normally straight link 24 is deflected so as to have the same curvtaure as that of the base and top members and consequently the resiliency of the link 24 causes it to force the top member upwardly within the base member, thus assuring engagement of the tooth 42 with the ratchet teeth 22.

The top member is slid into the base member a distance suiflcient to cause the bracelet to properly fit the wrist of the wearer and obviously the telescoping of the two members can be stopped at any point after the tooth 42 has engaged the ratchet teeth.

When it is desired to remove the bracelet, pressure applied by the finger at any point along the top of .the member 32 causes it to move slightly downwardly within the base member against the springefiect of the resilient link 24, thus releasing the tooth 42 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 22 and, while so disengaged, the top member may be slid out of the base member. It will thus be seen that it is not necessary to apply a releasing force to a small button or the like, or to lift any part by means of the fingernail.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 diflers from that shown in the preceding figures in that none of the links are made of resilient material, but a separate spring 50 is secured within the base member ID and serves, when the top 32 is slid into the base member, to force the flanges 40 of the former upwardly against the flanges 26 of the latter so as to engage the tooth 42 ,with theratchet teeth 22. In this embodiment, the spring 50, which in cross-section has the shape best shown in Fig. 7, may be secured to the bottom portion i l of the base member in any suitable manner, such as by being riveted or spot welded thereto. The operation of this embodiment is the same as that disclosed above and hence a repetition of the description of the opening and closing of the clasp is not necessary.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 through 11 differs from those previously described in that the base member is slidably connected with the first link, while the top member is pivotally connected to the second link.

- Referring to these figures, reference character 56 designates generally the base member having abottom 52 and side flanges 54. The upper edges ofthe flanges 54 are turned inwardly to provide downwardly extending flange elements 56, one or both of which is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 58.

The first link 60 is provided with an enlarged end 62, the width of which is substantially the same as the interior dimension between the flanges 54 on the base member. A tooth 6| extends upwardly from one corner of the enlarged end 62,. The link 60 is made of resilient material and a spring finger 64 is preferably struck out of the enlarged end 62, the free end of this finger bearing against the bottom 52 of the base member was to force the sides of the enlarged end up against the lower edges of the downwardly extending flanges 56 and to maintain tooth 6| in engagement with teeth 58.

The end of the bottom 52 of the base member is formed with an upstanding lip 66 which serves as a stop which is engaged by the end of the spring finger 64 when the link is slid to the extended position shown in Fig. 8, thus preventing complete withdrawal of the link 60 from the base member.

Pivotally connected to the link 66 is a second link 68, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to one end of the top member 50. This top member is formed with a pair of downwardly extending flanges 12 extending the entire length of the member, the distance between the outer surfaces of which is substantially equal to the interior distance between the downwardly extending flanges 56 on the base member. A pair of outwardly extending flanges M are provided at the lower edges of the flanges l2 and are adapted to slide underneath the lower edges of the flanges 56. As will be seen more particularly from Figs. 8 and 10, the flanges M do not extend the entire length of the top member '16 but terminate at a distance from one end thereof which is substantially equal to the length of the enlarged end 62 of the link 60.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig.6, the clasp is fully open and the-bracelet may be fully extended. In order to close the clasp the link 68 and the top member 16 are folded downwardly until the left ends thereof are withinthe flanges of the base member 50. In this position the flanges 14 of the top member are closely adjacent to the end of the enlarged portion 62 of the link 60, and hence are a short distance to the right of the base member 50. Thereafter, the links 60 and 6B and the top 10 may be slid into the base member, the enlarged end 62 sliding underneath the flanges 56 with the tooth 6| engaging successive teeth of the ratchet 58. Also, the flanges M of the top member slide underneath the flanges 56 of the base member. The spring finger 64 urges the tooth 6| into engagement with the teeth 58 and consequently the link 66, the link 68 and the member 10 are prevented from moving to the right. Thus, the length of the bracelet may be adjusted to accommodate the circumference of the wrist of the wearer. The link 68 and the top 16 are prevented from unfolding out of the base member when the clasp is closed due to the fact that the flanges M on the top member are underneath the flanges 56 of the base member.

When it is desired to open the clasp, pressure is applied to the top member which pressure is transmitted through the second link 66 to the link 60, thus moving the latter downwardly against the force of spring finger 64 and disengaging the tooth fil from the teeth 58. With the parts in this position the links 66 and 68 and the top member 10 may be slid to the right until the flanges 14 on the top member are beyond'the flanges 56 on the base member, whereupon the clasp may be fully opened. a

While I have described several preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of description only and the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. In a bracelet clasp, a channel member adapted to be attached to one end of a bracelet, said channel member having a transverse wall and vertical side flanges forming a U-shaped cross section and an inturned element on at least one of said flanges spaced from said transverse wall to receive a slide flange therebetween, elements adapted to be nested in said channel member comprising a second member adapted to be connected to the other end of the bracelet, and a pair of links pivo-tally connected together, one of said links being pivotally connected to one of said members and the other link being slidably connected to the other of said members; said links being receivable in said channel member between said side flanges, and said second mem ber being slidable into said channel member and having a flange at least as long as the sliding distance positioned to slide in the space between said inturned element and said transverse wall for preventing the parts from unfolding cooperating latching elements on the contacting surfaces of said inturned element and on one of the elements adapted to be nested and which is slidable in said channel member between said inturned element and said transverse wall, engageable upon displacement of said one of said nestable elements toward the open side of said channel to prevent said second member from sliding outwardly and being releasable when said second member is pressed toward nested position in said channel member, one of said latching elements comprising ratchet teeth shaped to permit inward sliding adjustment of said second member.

2. In a bracelet clasp, a channel member adapted to be attached to one end of a bracelet, said channel member having a transverse Wall and side flanges forming a U-shaped cross section and an inturned element on at least one of said flanges spaced from said transverse wall to receive a slide flange therebetween, a second channel member adapted to be connected to the other end of the bracelet and to slide within the first channel member, a pair of links pivotally connected together, one of said links being pivotally connected to said first channel member and the other link being slidably connected to the second channel member, said links being receivable in said first channel member between said side flanges, and said second channel member being slidable into said first channel member and having a side flange at least as long as the sliding distance positioned to slide in the space between aid inturncd element and said transverse Wall for preventing the parts from unfolding, cooperating latching elements on the contacting surfaces of said inturned element and the side flange of said second channel member engageable upon displacement of said second channel member toward the open side of said first channel member to prevent said second channel member from sliding outwardly, one of said latching elements comprising ratchet teeth shaped to permit inward sliding adjustment of said second channel member, said links tending to maintain said latching elements in engagement and being deformable to release said elements when said second channel member is pressed toward nested position in said first channel member.

3. In a bracelet clasp, a channel member adapted to be attached to one end of a bracelet, said channel member having a transverse wall and side flanges forming a U-shaped cross section and an inturned element on each of said flanges spaced from said transverse wall to receive a side flange therebetween, a second channel member adapted to be connected to the other end of the bracelet and to slide within the first channel member, a pair of links pivotally connected together, one of said links being pivotally connected to said first channel member and the other link being slidably connected to the second channel member, said links being receivable in said first channel member between said side flanges, and said second channel member being slidable into said first channel member and having outwardly extending side flanges at least as long as the sliding distance positioned to slide in the space between said inturned elements and said transverse Wall for preventing the parts from unfolding, cooperating latching elements on the contacting surfaces on one of said inturned elements and the cooperating side flange of said second channel member engageable upon displacement of said second channel member toward the open side of said first channel member to prevent said second channel member from sliding outwardly, one of said latching elements comprising ratchet teeth shaped to permit inward sliding adjustment of said second channel mem ber, said links tending to maintain said latching elements in engagement and being deformable to release said elements when said second channel member is pressed toward nested position in said first channel member.

IRVING ROWEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,893,271 Carlson Jan. 3, 1933 1,996,517 Lederer Apr, 22, 1935 2,145,680 Bennett Jan. 31, 1939 2,193,596 Kestenman Mar. 12, 1940 

